One of the most significant struggles for organizations and researchers alike is the dispersed and disparate nature of human and social capital data.  Understanding outcomes affected by social capital—and the many factors that contribute to it—requires information about how individuals interact with social institutions and use community resources.  Understanding the true impact of efforts requires an ability to measure a variety of outcomes.  Unfortunately, this type of information rarely is shared across sources, making interactions that contribute to child, family, and community well-being difficult to understand.  Reliable data is critical to understanding the effects of human and social capital initiatives on planning services, program evaluations, public policy, and academic research.

   The need for improved data is evidenced by a combination of recent initiatives.  During the last few years, the Charlotte-based Foundation for the Carolinas, United Way, Mecklenburg County social service providers and educators, the Urban League, and area mental health providers have, in concert or individually, initiated efforts to address the challenges surrounding social capital data needs for measuring these assets and conducting assessment.  The Children’s Alliance, a collaborative effort that includes over 30 children’s social service programs, also is seeking a means to share data across agencies.  Often, social and environmental variables have their greatest impact on children and youth, which generates heightened community interest in understanding how to affect outcomes of children and youth.  As community leaders realize the critical role that human and social capital development play in the growth and sustainability of the Charlotte region, policymakers and researchers have emphasized the importance and difficulty of measuring the effect of programs designed to improve social capital and child and family outcomes. 

   In the fall of 2003, UNC Charlotte sponsored a feasibility study to understand the viability of and structures necessary to respond to these growing community and academic needs.  As a result of the study, the Institute for Social Capital (“ISC”) was founded in April 2004 by the Foundation of UNC Charlotte.  The Foundation essentially created a vehicle for collaboration with local non-profits, governmental agencies, and community-based organizations and a means for compiling, validating and analyzing community data.